New York -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Six months ago , a Long Island convenience store owner turned a would-be robbery into an act of compassion . On Wednesday , the shoplifter made amends with a $ 50 bill and a thank you letter for saving him from a life of crime .

The story began in May 2009 , when Mohammad Sohail of Shirley , New York , was closing his Shirley Express convenience store one night . Security camera footage from that evening shows a man wielding a baseball bat barging into the store and demanding money .

Sohail had a rifle ready and quickly aimed it directly in the robber 's face , forcing the man to drop the bat and lay on the ground . Unbeknownst to the man , Sohail never loads his gun .

According to Sohail , the man immediately started to plead with him , tearfully saying , `` I 'm sorry , I have no food . I have no money . My whole family is hungry . Do n't call the police . Do n't shoot me . ''

`` When I see him starting crying -LSB- those -RSB- things , I really feel bad for him , '' said Sohail . `` I say , oh man , this is something different . ''

Sohail made the man pledge never to rob anybody ever again , then gave the man $ 40 and a loaf bread . Sohail , who is from Pakistan , said the man then wanted to be a Muslim like him , so he recited an Islamic oath and gave the would-be robber the name Nawaz Sharif Zardari .

Sohail went to get some milk , but when he returned the man had fled with the money and food .

Both Mohammad Sohail and Suffolk County Police have no idea who the man is . After the May incident , Sohail explained that he will `` absolutely not '' be pressing charges , though police are still investigating the case .

Over the past six months , Sohail 's story of sympathy and kindness has inspired many across the country .

The Shirley Express store has received numerous letters of admiration .

`` No person has ever moved my spirit the way you did . From your biggest admirer , '' one letter says . `` Great men are capable of great acts . You are a great American , '' another reads .

He has also received several checks with such messages for `` a couple hundred dollars '' in total , says Sohail . He has made a point to give this money `` to the people '' by offering free bagels , rolls and coffee in his store every night after 9 o'clock .

But the envelope that arrived on Wednesday came as a surprise . Postmarked November 11 without a return address , it enclosed a $ 50 bill and a note apparently from the would-be robber .

The typed letter begins , `` You change My Life -LRB- sic -RRB- , '' and goes on to say that the man is sorry for his actions six months ago .

`` At the time I had No money No food on my table No Job , and nothing for my family . I know that it was wrong , but I had know -LRB- sic -RRB- choice . I needed to feed My family . When You had That gun to my head I was 100 % that I was going to die , '' reads the letter .

The letter says Sohail 's acts inspired him to become a `` True Muslim '' and that his life has changed dramatically .

`` I 'm very happy that somebody got to change his life , '' Sohail said . `` If he is a maybe criminal , maybe is not anymore . So now he is a good person in this community and I 'm very glad for that . He 's staying out of trouble , he 's not in a jail , he 's taking care of his family . ''

CNN 's Mary Snow and Shirley Zilberstein contributed to this report .

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Would-be robber sends letter of thanks , $ 50 to shopkeeper who gave him food , money , let him go

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Man broke into sobs , said he was trying to feed family when Mohammed Sohail pulled out gun

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Letter begins with , `` You change my life , '' says Sohail inspired him to become a `` true Muslim ''